30 Oktober 2009

Mercedes Benz G-Wagon (photo : Mercedes Benz)GRAZ, AUSTRIA/MELBOURNE – German auto-maker Mercedes-Benz has delivered the first of 1200 specially made G-Wagon off-road vehicles to the Australian Army.Almost one year to the day the Australian Defence Force (ADF) signed contracts for the supply of the vehicles, the first two prototype units were handed over at a ceremony held in Mercedes-Benz’s Austrian assembly plant, the facility where the vehicles are produced.

In attendance were Brigadier David O’Brien of the Australian Army, the Australian Ambassador to Austria His Excellency Ambassador Michael Potts, senior Mercedes-Benz executives and the General Manager of major Australian sub-contractor G.H. Varley.

The new purpose-built cross-country vehicles will replace the ADF’s existing tactical vehicle fleet, and their entry into Australia’s military is the result of a large-scale project by the ADF. Internally coded as ‘Land 121’ but more commonly referred to as ‘Project Overlander’, the transition updates all existing Australian military field vehicles and trailers with up-to-date modern versions. It is one of the ADF’s largest peace-time projects.

The contract will see the delivery of 1200 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon off-road models, supplied in a number of variants. These include two- and four-door station wagons in 4x4 configuration, 4x4 cab-chassis utility vehicles, and purpose-built 6x6 models in both single- and dual-cab chassis. It also includes a specialised 6x6 surveillance and reconnaissance version for use in northern Australia.

The ADF will test a range of prototype G-Wagon vehicles in 2010, with deliveries of production models to take place between 2011 and 2013.

Mercedes Benz 6x6 special for ADF (photo : Amus)

Mercedes-Benz has employed New South Wales-based engineering firm G.H. Varley to provide a range of transport modules that will be fitted to many of the G-Class vehicles. These will serve a range of functions, including ambulance, command post, personnel carriage and general cargo.

Yesterday’s vehicle handover marks an important milestone in Project Overlander, a vital undertaking which commenced several years ago. An exhaustive tender process culminated in the signing of the historic contract in October last year.

Mercedes-Benz has a long history of supporting the Australian Defence Forces with field vehicles. For example, LA911B fire tankers were put into service with the ADF in 1978 and the unmistakeable Unimog off-roader commenced service in 1981. More recently, Mercedes-Benz coaches, vans and heavy-duty Actros 8x8 trucks have joined the ADF’s ranks. The well-proven G-Wagon is the latest addition to this list, bringing with it a strong 30-year service record.

About the Mercedes-Benz G-Class

The famous Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon off-road vehicle was first unveiled in 1979 and was designed predominantly with heavy-duty off-road terrain in mind. Originally known as the G-Wagon, short for ‘geländewagen’, or ‘cross-country vehicle’, this iconic all-terrain wagon has, over the many years of its production life, been adapted to ever-changing customer requirements in the civilian and military worlds.

It boasted outstanding off-road capabilities right from the outset, but its all-terrain prowess has been continuously improved through the addition of cutting-edge electronic controls and powertrain technologies, proven in the toughest off-road applications.

Its exceptional performance off the beaten track, its excellent towing abilities and balanced handling characteristics have resulted in the G-Wagon enjoying an extraordinarily long production career, which now stands at 30 years.

The Royal Australian Air Force's second of five Airbus Military A330 Multi-Role Tanker-Transports (MRTT) has completed conversion and initial flight testing in Brisbane.The aircraft has been flown via the USA back to Airbus Military's home facility in Getafe, near Madrid, for further modification and final test flights.

The aircraft is the type's first non-Getafe conversion. The work was done by Qantas Aviation Services, which will also convert the remaining three aircraft destined for the RAAF, which will receive the first aircraft by mid-2010.

In RAAF trim the aircraft, derived from the Airbus A330-200 airliner, features an Airbus Military air refuelling boom system with fly-by-wire controls and two under-wing hose-and-drogue pods.

29 Oktober 2009

Malaysia's MiG-29 fighter will be replaced by new interceptor aircraft (photo : Military Photos)

KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) MiG-29 fighter jets will be gradually phased out and replaced by new interceptor aircraft by Dec 31 2010 due to rising operational and maintenance costs, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

He said replacement aircraft was needed due to increasing maintenence costs and that the MiG-29s were nearing their lifespan limit of 10 years. Two such aircraft had also crashed in 1998 and 2005.

Zahid said only 10 MiG-29s will be used for airspace defence and this will be reduced to six aircraft until December next year.

“The Government will save RM260mil per year in maintenance costs and these savings will be used to maintain other types of aircraft in the RMAF inventory,” he told Datuk Abd Rahman Dahlan (BN-Kota Belud).

Abd Rahman also asked why Malaysia had bought the MiG-29s.

“Malaysia bought the MiG-29s at a relatively low price, but later on the RMAF had to contend with higher expenses in spare parts replacement and maintenence work,” he added.

Zahid replied that when Malaysia bought 18 MiG-29 aircraft in 1993, the jet was considered the most capable and versatile fighter aircraft that could be obtained at the time.

He also said that each MiG-29 needed to undergo preventive and restoration work which cost RM10mil and RM7mil for engine overhaul every year after it completes a flight time of between 1,000 hours and 4,000 hours.

“The MiG-29s will be replaced by 18 Russian-made Sukhoi SU30MKM fighter jets which the Government had just acquired,” he added.

Later, at the Parliament lobby, Zahid the cost to maintain the MiGs was too high because the jets also needed to be sent to Russia for overhaul work.

Zahid said many countries have also moved towards obtaining fighter jets with multi-role combat capabilities.

“We are assessing whether to get the new jets from the United States, France, Sweden or Britain. The purchase will also depend on the country’s economic recovery,” he added.

"This is the first Aegis BMD flight test conducted with two versions of the U.S. Navy Aegis BMD baselines and a Japanese destroyer," said Orlando Carvalho, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Surface-Sea Based Missile Defense line of business. "These events demonstrate the Aegis development success of build a little, test a little, learn a lot as well as the flexibility of the systems to evolve and keep pace with the threat to control the battlespace.

" The Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Navy are jointly developing Aegis BMD as part of the United States' Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). The Navy's independent operational test agent has assessed the Aegis BMD and SM-3 Block IA system to be operationally effective and operationally suitable. Currently, a total of 22 Aegis BMD-equipped warships -- 19 in the U.S. Navy and three in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force -- have the certified capability to engage ballistic missiles and perform long-range surveillance and tracking missions. Two additional U.S. East Coast-based Aegis-equipped ships are being modified to perform ballistic missile defense in the next six months.

The Aegis Weapon System is the world's premier naval defense system and the sea-based element of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System. Its precision SPY-1 radar and integrated command and control system seamlessly guides the interceptor and uplinks target track information to the missile for terminal homing. Its ability to detect, track and engage targets ranging from sea-skimming cruise missiles to ballistic missiles in space is proven and unmatched. The Aegis BMD Weapon System also integrates with the BMDS, receiving track data from and providing track information to other BMDS elements.

The 92 Aegis-equipped ships currently in service around the globe have more than 950 years of at-sea operational experience and have launched more than 3,500 missiles in tests and real-world operations. In addition to the U.S. and Japan, Aegis is the maritime weapon system of choice for Australia, Norway, South Korea and Spain.

Personnel at the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai launched the ballistic missile target. The crew of the Japanese destroyer JS Myoko (DDG-175) detected and tracked the target before firing the intercepting missile.

"Today's hit-to-kill intercept is further proof that Japan can successfully deploy a sea-based ballistic missile defense system," said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, Raytheon Missile Systems president. "The U.S. has a key ally that can defend itself against the growing threat of ballistic missiles."

Raytheon and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, under contract to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and the Japanese Ministry of Defense, are developing the next-generation SM-3 Block IIA missile. The new missile will include larger second- and third-stage rocket motors and a larger kinetic warhead to provide a greater area of defense against more sophisticated threats.

SM-3 is being developed as part of MDA's sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system. The missiles are deployed on U.S. Aegis cruisers and destroyers and Japanese destroyers to defend against short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats in the ascent and midcourse phases of flight.

28 Oktober 2009

The Australian Army’s 1st Aviation Regiment has swopped its Kiowas for TigersThe Australian Army’s 1st Aviation Regiment marked the retirement of its fleet of Bell 206B-1 Kiowa helicopters with a flypast over its base at Robertson Barracks near Darwin.

The Kiowa, regarded as the ‘workhorse’ of the Australian Army, has been replaced by the Eurocopter Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter on the battlefield. Regiment executive officer Major Brett Whitcombe said: "It changes the Regiment from a battlefield support role to a true combat role – the Kiowa had no weaponry systems and was used for reconnaissance, whereas the Tiger is a world-class fighting machine.

”The Kiowa will continue to be used in the training role – the Army has 37 examples on strength with five in storage. Twenty-two Tiger ARHs have been bought for the frontline.

he Australian has reported that the Hedemora diesel engines in the Collins subs may have to be replaced. (photo : Defense Industry Daily)

The existing Through-Life Support (TLS) agreement was signed in December 2003, with an initial duration of 15 years and an option to extend for a further 10 years.But The Australian last week reported senior engineering experts as saying that, due to a run of crippling mechanical problems, the Swedish-supplied Hedemora diesel engines in the Collins subs may have to be replaced - a major design and engineering job that could cost millions of dollars and take years to complete.The report also suggested that Defence wants to cut the average time for a Full Cycle Docking (FCD) from three to two years which would save some $60-70 million a year.ASC shortly after outlined how well they are working with DMO to get the issues sorted and that an announcement on a new boss is ‘expected shortly' after Greg Tunny's departure in May this year saw a ‘shake-up' of how business was done.

New Support Agreement to Cut Collins’ Costs?

Defence is seeking to reduce the cost of operating the Navy's six Collins-class submarines by signing a new support agreement with ASC before the start of fiscal year 2010, a Department of Defence spokesperson has confirmed to Jane's.

THE navy's $6 billion Collins-class submarines face serious operational restrictions after being hit by a run of crippling mechanical problems and troubling maintenance issues.

The Collins class submarine fleet could be pulled out of action after faults were uncovered.

The Collins class submarine fleet could be pulled out of action after faults were uncovered.

Some senior engineering experts now contend that the Swedish-supplied Hedemora diesel engines may have to be replaced - a major design and engineering job that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars and take years to complete.

So serious are the problems that the Defence Materiel Organisation has put the Collins boats at the top of its list of "projects of concern" - the key equipment issues troubling Australia's Defence leaders.

The Australian understands that in recent times only a single Collins-class boat has been available for operational duties but it is unclear whether this involves more than extended training missions.Senior Defence leaders are also vitally concerned about the productivity and efficiency of ASC, the Adelaide-based wholly government-owned builder and maintainer of the Collins class.One senior Defence source characterises the level of concern in senior government ranks about the availability of the Collins submarines as "extreme".

In the recent defence white paper, Kevin Rudd announced that the government would double the size of the RAN's submarine fleet from six to 12 when it came to replacing the Collins-class boats from 2025.

"If you can't do this right, how do you do the next one," observed one senior Defence source last night.

We spend a lot of money on this core defence capability and they aren't working properly."

Defence Minister John Faulkner and Defence Materiel Minister Greg Combet have now demanded monthly updates from the navy and Defence about the operational state of the Collins-class vessels.

ASC, the Adelaide-based builder and maintainer of the Collins class, is now working through a range of mechanical issues affecting the performance of the six submarines with the state of the diesel engines a fundamental concern.

The trouble-plagued diesel engines are expected to last at least another 15 to 20 years before they are progressively replaced by the planned next-generation submarine from 2025.

While ASC believes they can still last the expected life-of-type and has called in a Swiss consultant to advise on a long-term remediation plan, other external experts believe there may be no option but to start planning for their eventual replacement.The Hedemora diesel engines have never functioned well from the start and there are now real doubts that they are robust enough to see out the life of the Collins boats.

Other mechanical issues include the performance of the electric motors, batteries and generators but ASC sources are confident that these glitches are being satisfactorily resolved.Collins when launched for first time (photo : Unesa)

HMAS Collins is undergoing repairs on its diesel engines and there are temporary restrictions on two other boats while the bands on their electric motors are fixed.But ASC remains confident that four "operational" boats will be available to the navy early in 2010 while HMAS Rankin and HMAS Sheean enter ASC's Adelaide yard to undergo a "full-cycle docking" - a major refit and overhaul.

ASC has the maintenance contract for the Collins boats worth nearly $200 million and this year is budgeted to spend $330m on maintaining and upgrading the submarines, including the combat system.

But Defence leaders are concerned about the company's ability to efficiently manage the regular full-cycle dockings (FCD) and other lengthy maintenance periods that the Collins boats require.

Defence wants to cut the average time taken for a FCD from three to two years, saving at least $60-70m a year, which would be ploughed back into supporting the Collins capability.

ASC has a $3bn long-term through-life support contract for the Collins boats with the DMO which is due to be renegotiated by next March.

Senior Defence sources say there will be three key performance indicators that they expect from the new contract with ASC including an increased availability of boats for operations and a reduced cost of ownership to the commonwealth.

"We are concerned with the amount of availability of the boats and the cost of doing the maintenance as well as some of the technical outcomes being achieved," DMO chief Stephen Gumley told The Australian.

"We are working with the company to improve in each of those areas. We hope to have a new through-life support contract for the Collins by Easter next year, which would commence in the financial year starting on July 1, 2010," Dr Gumley said."Like any complex asset, there is a series of technical challenges.

"We are working with ASC and external consultants to evaluate some of the challenges that wehave."

A recent external consultant's study of workforce productivity on the Collins boats at ASC's Adelaide yard suggests room for significant improvement.According to documents obtained by The Australian, the study showed that some mechanical tradesmen working on the Collins boats were idle for much of their time on the shop floor.One electrical tradesman was present for the entire day but his only role was to insert and remove the fuses for a pressure test. This test took 10 minutes and was held mid-afternoon.Another electrical tradesman was clocked to have spent three hours and 12 minutes of productive work in a day. "The average efficiency observed (using generous definitions of productive work) was 30 per cent. Over 15 days of tradesperson time across multiple disciplines was observed, and nobody has suggested that theperiod of time we studied was not representative," the consultant report found."We believe that an efficiency of 80 per cent should be considered world-class in this environment.

This would be a 167 per cent increase in the work output of the current workforce or opportunity for a dramatic cost reduction," the report said.

Ever since they were launched, the Collins boats have been plagued by mechanical problems.As early as June 1999, a report to the Howard government found a range of serious technical defects in the Collins boats, three of which had been delivered to the navy by that time. These included problems with the diesel engines as well as noise propagation and the performance of propellers, periscopes, masts and the combat system. By far the most expensive fix was the the combat system. The original system never worked and was eventually replaced at a cost of close to $1 billion.

26 Oktober 2009

No.330 submarine of a submarine flotilla of the East China Sea Fleet (ECSF) of the PLA Navy frequented the vast territorial seas in recent years. It has successfully accomplished dozens of major tasks such as equipment acceptance, test and long voyage and is dubbed as a “pioneer” of the new-type submarine of the PLA Navy.

No.330 submarine is a new generation submarine independently developed and produced by China. And it has such advantages as low noise, long underwater sailing time and advanced power as well as weapon and equipment system.

The reporters experienced a maritime exercise in a sea area not long ago. New-type submarine combat group with No.330 submarine as the leader concealed, broke through the blockade of the destroyer formation and anti-submarine military strength in the air and entered the attack position by adopting new combat method. “Direction and speed of the target are ascertained, a type of torpedo in 3# pipe gets ready to release!” As soon as the order of the captain was released, the torpedo left the pipe. Several minutes later, the torpedo hit the target accurately. This exercise symbolized that a new generation submarine of the PLA Navy has generated battle effectiveness.

25 Oktober 2009

The state-run Kharkiv aviation plant delivered an An-74 TK300 aircraft to Laos last week, Interfax-Ukraine learned at the enterprise.

The plant assembled the aircraft under a contract signed in 2005. Laos is already operating An-74 supplied to the country earlier.

The An-74 TK300 aircraft was designed on the basis of An-74 and can carry 10 tonnes of cargo or 52 passengers. This year, Kharkiv plant is to construct three An-74 in the frames of the contracts with Libya, Laos and Egypt. The Antonov An-74 is used by the military and civil airlines in 20 countries.

Together with foreign partners, the An-74 designer - Antonov Design Bureau - is working to modernize the aircraft.

24 Oktober 2009

AUSTRALIA'S military chiefs favour the US over Europe in a planned $4 billion naval combat helicopter buy that is generating high-level concern among senior government ministers and local defence industry leaders.

In a classified submission sent to defence ministers John Faulkner and Greg Combet, the military chiefs have opted for the US Navy's MH-60R Seahawk as the best choice for the Royal Australian Navy's new rotary wing anti-submarine warfare platform.

The military chiefs favour an early decision on the Sikorsky MH-60R, arguing that it represents a cheaper, risk-free solution for Australia compared with its competitor, the European NH90 naval frigate helicopter.

The NH90 is a maritime version of the MRH90 now entering service with the Australian army. Its maker, European defence giant EADS, has established a strong industry presence locally with a workforce of 1000.

The clear military preference for a US solution troubles ministers, given the multi-billion-dollar investment in European combat helicopters by the Australian Defence Force in recent years.

Another concern is that selecting a new US helicopter will fly in the face of Defence's goal of reducing the types of helicopters flown by the ADF.

Senior Defence figures are querying the wisdom of a "sole source" decision in favour of the US in what will be the biggest defence purchase in the Rudd government's new defence capability plan, which details the main equipment proposals to be finalised over the next four years.

Mr Combet, the Defence Materiel Minister, said last night that the government would consider both options for the navy's new combat helicopters.

"This is an extremely important acquisition, one of the most significant in the DCP.

"The government would be concerned to approach such an acquisition after very carefully looking at the options which, at least, include both a US and a European capability."

At a media briefing yesterday Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin officials stressed their belief that the MH-60R represented the lowest possible risk as well as lowest cost solution for the RAN's naval helicopter arm.

They have also promised $1bn of investment in local industry if the deal goes through. Australian Aerospace, the local subsidiary of EADS which also supplies the army's Tiger helicopters, argues that big cost savings will be realised by a common baseline for the ADF's rotary wing, removing the need for multiple training and logistics systems.

Stung by the $1.4bn Seasprite helicopter procurement debacle, Defence chiefs want an accelerated purchase of the Sikorsky MH-60R in a foreign military sale purchase via the US Navy.

They believe there are clear advantages in buying proven American technology, including better interoperability between the two navies.

Sikorsky says it could deliver the first MH-60R to the RAN by late 2011 and points to four fleet squadrons already operating with the US Navy.

Cabinet's national security committee is expected to consider the Defence Department submission before Christmas as concerns mount in the navy about the run-down of the RAN's anti-submarine capability.

Not only did the RAN not get its now-junked Seasprite helicopters but the 16 elderly S-70B machines in service are not delivering the vital operational availability the navy needs.

The RAN wants to buy 24 helicopters that would enter operational service by 2014. They will be equipped with missiles and torpedoes, and perform both anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare roles.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- With a combined allocation of RM3.7 billion (1.1 bio USD) under the 2010 Budget, the three branches of the security forces - the Malaysian Defence Forces (ATM), Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) - pledged to do their best to further improve their delivery system.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when announcing the budget in the Dewan Rakyat Friday, said for the next fiscal year, the government was allocating RM1.9 billion (547 mio USD) for ATM, RM1 billion (288 mio USD) for RMP and RM622 million (179 mio USD) for MMEA.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that although the allocation was lower because of economic pressures, the ministry was thankful as it would help to better equip military personnel and upgrade sentry posts as outlined in the budget.

"The allocation might be smaller this time but we understand the economic pressures the country is facing," he said.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said the RM1 billion allocation would be put to good use, especially in the aspects of management, development and operations.

"It will also help us to buy up to date crime fighting tools to boost our efforts to improve the RMP's delivery system as spelt out under its Five Year Strategic Plan," he said.

MMEA director-general Admiral Datuk Mohd Amdan Kurish said the RM622 million was a big help to the agency to discharge it duties of guarding the nation's waters.

Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the RM1 billion to RMP was a big boost to help it combat crime."It is hoped this will also be of help to crime prevention campaigns jointly conducted by the RMP and MCPF in the interest of the public," he said.

(Bernama)See also Budget Allocation in 2009 :Defense Development Budget was slashed 50% by Malaysia21 Oktober 2008KLS：In order to implement "people centric" policy, Malaysia's government slashed defense Development Budget 2009 to 2.3 billion Ringgit, a decrease of 49.8 percent compared to the same period last year.According to the Budget 2009 released by Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Defense gets 13.2 billion Ringgit budget in which the Operating Budget is 10.6 billion Ringgit, an increase of 8.2 percent compared to the same period last year. However, the Development Budget not only 49.8 percent less than last year, but also almost 40% less than in previous years.After the Development Budget was slashed drastically, its overall budget decreased 1.5 billion Ringgit or 10.47 percent. This move, however, is in line with the open speeches which made by high-ranking officials of Ministry of Defense previously that defense budget would be cut by 10%.Defense budget accounts for 6.6 percent of the total budget in which Ministry of Defense is the fourth largest financed ministry that after the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Health accordingly. This tremendous decision is in line with the government's "people centric" policy, that social and economic projects will be given priority.The Budget 2009 says 10.6 billion Ringgit of Operating Budget will be used in most of the payment of salaries and the rest used in the procurement of uniforms, bullet and ammunition, spare parts, maintenance payments for aircraft, vessels, facilities and equipment.Most of the Operation Budget will be used in the maintenance of the equipment in which an increase from last year's RM 440,056,800 to RM 891,685,500; followed by service and supply (from RM 5,195,989,400 to RM 5,440,132,200); its third, payment for emolument (from RM 4,134,536,100 to RM 4,247,222,600) respectively.It is noteworthy that, ratio of Operation and Development budget reaches its peak of imbalance, 2005 is 1.9:1; 2006 is 2.1:1; 2007 is 2.3:1; 2008 is 2.1:1, and 2009 reaches to a serious imbalance 4.5:1!Meanwhile, the Budget 2009 will eliminate 844 military posts that the total number of civilian and military posts in MINDEF, will drop from 2008's 170,739 people to 169,895 people. The most affected programs are Malaysian contingencies which stationed in overseas to support United Nations' peacekeeping operations.As for the Development Budget, Navy faces the greatest impact in which its budget for arms procurement decreased significantly from RM 811.12 million to RM 100,000, followed by Army from RM 1,303.87 million fell to RM 136.1 million.

However, Air Force is not affected, in contrast having an increase from RM 1.482 billion to RM 1.613 billion, which believes large amount is to be used to cover the cost of procurement of 18 SU-30MKMs and 12 new type of utility helicopters.Obviously, there will be no large-scale military procurement projects in 2009, except the authority may launch some programs that without using "real money".In addition, Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency, which is paramilitary forces, gets RM 651 million for Development Budget, while its Operating Budget is RM 314.9 million, that total amount of budget is RM 965.9 million. Compared to last year its expenditure RM 188.64 million, it is nearly 5 times increment.

Editor's note: All information obtained from the Budget 2009; The Exchange rate between USD and Ringgit on October 21, is 1 USD to 3.5255 Ringgit.(KLSReview)

23 Oktober 2009

An A330 multirole tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has performed its first in-flight refuelling test.The aircraft, equipped with an air refuelling boom system (ARBS), performed the test with two F16s from the Portuguese Air Force as receiver planes.

The test validates the integration of the refuelling system into the airframe and operational capability of all systems on the aircraft along with the fuel transfer capability through the boom system.

The flight lasted four hours and 30 minutes, during which a total of 13 contacts were performed and over 1.5t of fuel was transferred.

The boom, which is located underneath the rear fuselage of the tanker aircraft, is remotely controlled from a console in the cockpit, where an operator uses an advanced technology 2/3D viewing system.

The ARBS supports refuelling up to an altitude of 35,000ft while cruising at speeds of 180kt to 325kt in all weather, day or night with stereoscopic vision and lighting systems.

The 17m-long ARBS can reduce refuelling time with its high fuel transfer rate of up to 1,200gal a minute at 50psi.

The boom is equipped with an automatic load alleviation system, has an auto-disconnect envelope for each receiver, and has been designed under the back-up concept (fail operational, fail safe).

On-ground refuelling tests through conventional hose and drogue system were conducted in September 2009, transferring over 200t of fuel.

The first Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C aircraft for Pakistan has begun its final tests in Sweden. (photo : Saab)

In a ceremony in Linköping today Saab and the Pakistan Air Force celebrated the start of the final tests of the new Erieye AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft. The aircraft is currently undergoing system tests in Sweden and will continue with follow on testing in Pakistan later this year.

The tests aim is to evaluate the complete system including aircraft, radar, C2 system, communication and live situation picture including integration into the Pakistan Air Force’s Command & Control Ground Environment.

Saab signed a contract in October 2005 to supply an airborne surveillance system for Pakistan. The contract came into effect in June 2006. The system consists of three parts; an airborne segment, a ground based segment and logistics and support service. The airborne segment includes Saab 2000 aircraft equipped with the airborne early warning radar system Erieye.

Pakistan has had a long standing requirement for an airborne system to perform continuous surveillance of air territory, borders and the sea. The new airborne surveillance system will, together with existing ground based radars, provide a more detailed picture to decision makers in order to conduct more efficient rescue operations as well as to counter potential threats to national security.

Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents and constantly develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.

The SandCat is a lightweight and versatile protected vehicle that features a durable modular armour system. (photo : Oshkosh)

As we had anticipated, Oshkosh Defense has submitted its MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) and SandCat vehicles as part of two proposals with Plasan SASA, Ltd., and JLG Australia for the Land 121 Phase 4 Protected Mobility Vehicles-Light (PMV-L) requirement.

The M-ATV, which Oshkosh produces for the US Armed Forces, is a well-protected and highly mobile combat vehicle.

"We have a successful history of working with Plasan to integrate state-of-the-art armour on our mission-proven vehicles.

"The manufacturing capabilities that our sister company JLG brings to the proposals will benefit the customer with in-country vehicle assembly and aftermarket service and support."

JLG Australia is a producer of mobile aerial work platforms.

With confirmed bids by Thales with the Hawkei, GD Land Systems with a variant of the Eagle, and now Oshkosh, we suspect the other two PMV-L proposals are from BAE Systems/Navistar and the UK Creation team.

U.S. Army has ordered 45,000 radically new parachutes. The T-11 ATPS (Advanced Tactical Parachute System) is replacing its half century old T-10 parachute. The new and improved model is urgently needed because, in the last half century, paratroopers, and their equipment, have gotten heavier. The current T-10 was designed to handle a maximum weight of 300 pounds (a paratrooper and his equipment.) In practice, the average weight is now closer to 400 pounds. This meant that the troops were hitting the ground faster and harder using the T-10, resulting in more injuries. Since World War II, the average injury rate for mass parachute drops has been 1.5 percent, but all that extra muscle and gear has pushed it to over two percent.

T-11R reserve parachute (photo : Airborne)

The basic problem was that the venerable T-10 was not able to handle larger and heavier (it's all muscle, folks) paratroopers and the more numerous bits of equipment they jump with. The 51 pound T-11 (main chute and backup) can bring over 400 pounds of paratrooper and equipment to the ground at 16 feet per second. The 44 pound T-10 could bring 300 pounds down at 23 feet per second. When the T-10 was dealing with more weight, it came down faster, causing more injuries. The T-11, when deployed has a diameter 14 percent greater than that of the T-10, with 28 percent more surface area. The T-11 harness is more reliable and comfortable. Operational testing of the T-11 has been underway for four years, and the new chute will have completely replaced the T-10 in five years.

22 Oktober 2009

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has displayed two scale models of their attack helicopter as candidates for the indigenous AH-X programme to replace the country's aging helicopters.The South Korean Army has plans to replace its aging Bell AH-1 and MD Helicopters MD-500 attack helicopters with around 270 attack helicopters.

The two options are based on the platform of the Korea utility helicopter (KUH) currently being developed by KAI in collaboration with Eurocopter.The KUH will be further developed and customised as Korea attack helicopter, which will be delivered on time, says KAI.

Of the two displayed options the first variant is similar in size to the KUH, with the cockpit slightly modified to incorporate weapons systems. More than 70% of the components are matched with the KUH.The 16.2m-long, 5.5m-wide first variant will have a total payload capacity of 7,500kg-7,950kg and a maximum speed of 255km/h.The helicopter can hover at 6,500ft, and has a cruise duration of 2.2 hours.

Second variant Korea's attack helicopter (photo : Chosun)The slimmer second variant resembles other attack helicopters including the AgustaWestland AW129 Mangusta or Eurocopter Tiger, and will share only 60% of the KUH's components.

The second variant is 15.9m long and 5m wide, with a payload capacity of 7,270kg-7,720kg and a maximum speed of over 140kt. It can hover at 6,500ft and have a cruise duration of up to three hours.

Both the variants will have several weapons systems including 16 anti-tank missiles, 70mm rockets and 20mm-30mm turret guns.

THE government needs to meet the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) requirements when deciding which vessel to get to upgrade the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) transport fleet following the fire that gutted KD Sri Inderapura.Defence analyst Dzirhan Mahathir, in an email to Malay Mail, said: “At the end of the day, the decision should first be with the MAF as to the best and most suitable design that meets its needs in the appropriate time frame along with the other secondary candidates. The government has then to decide which of those listed fit within its financial considerations”.He was asked to comment on which vessels would best fulfill the Multi-Purpose Support Ship (MPSS) requirements of the RMN.He added: “It depends on the design and what equipment goes on the ship. If we take the lower end, Indonesia’s Makassar class that costs about US$19.9 million (around RM70 million) a ship, we will be looking at that as a minimum figure for one ship.”He added two ships is always better for operational reasons, allowing the navy to have another ship available if one breaks down or is deployed elsewhere.
On the fate of the two other transport ships in the Royal Malaysia Navy, Dzirhan said: “Any decision on KD Mahawangsa and KD Inderasakti will actually depend on the state of the ships and whether RMN will benefit from still having them in service or to replace them with new ships.”The Malay Mail on Tuesday reported that the government may have to spend some RM3 billion if it decided to procure the South Korean-made Dokdo-class amphibious transport ship to fulfill the (MPSS) requirements of the MAF.
The Dokdo-class reportedly is the MAF’s favourite candidate to fulfill the MPSS requirement. MAF had stated previously that it needs three MPSS to meet its strategic plans.

Indonesia's Makassar class : length 122 m, max displacement : 7.300 ton (photo : Kaskus Militer)
In 2007, it was announced that the government had in principle agreed to fund at least one MPSS in the Ninth Malaysian Plan but the procurement decision was deferred last year due to the economic crisis.The Indonesian Navy operates four Makassar-class amphibious ships, designated as Landing Platform Docks in military parlance.

The ships, derived from a commercial ferry design, were designed by Daesun Shipbuilding and Engineering Co of South Korea and based on the earlier Tanjung Dalpele class.The first two units were built in Busan, South Korea and the remaining two at Indonesia’s PT PAL shipyard in Surabaya.The third and fourth units have been modified to act as flagships with command and control systems, 100mm gun and air defence systems. Dzirhan said the MAF needed transport ships for several reasons.“There are a number of military equipment in the MAF that cannot be transported by military aircraft and need to be transported by sea in a military vessel, along with the fact that the military equipment may have to be unloaded in areas other than a port, which rules out using a civilian ship.“An MPSS is a tremendous asset for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations as its large personnel and cargo capacity allows it to bring relief supplies and personnel in large numbers.”In military operations, he added, the ship can bring men and materials in large numbers.“Also, Malaysia is separated into two distinct parts and therefore needs to have substantial military sea-lift capability to move men and material between East and West Malaysia in an emergency.”MAF had previously stated that it needed the MPSS not only for military operations but also for humanitarian aid and international peacekeeping duties.

On whether Malaysia should procure the MPSS from overseas or build it locally, Dzirhan said: “What matters is whether the design meets the requirements of the RMN and whether building locally is cheaper.”